Tax sodas and plastic bottles instead, says PNP Patriots

Patriots Chairman, Javette Nixon, says the Prime Minister must use his presentation in the Budget Debate tomorrow to announce the rollback.

The People’s National Party (PNP) Patriots is suggesting a tax on sweet and carbonated beverages and a levy on some plastic bottles instead of the measures announced by the Government to plug the deficit in the national Budget.

In a press release this afternoon, the Patriots said the rollback must include the new taxes on group health insurance and electricity, even if it would result in delaying the implementation of phase two of the $1.5 income tax break.

Patriots Chairman, Javette Nixon, says the Prime Minister must use his presentation in the Budget Debate tomorrow to announce the rollback.

He says taxes on sodas and other juices as well as on plastic bottles would address environmental issues.

Meanwhile, Nixon says the Patriots also want the planned $11 billion drawdown from the National Housing Trust (NHT) for budgetary support to be reconsidered.

He says the funds should be dedicated to significantly increasing the number of low income units available to contributors, and to finance the construction of what he calls lease-to-buy homes.

The Patriots say Opposition spokesman on finance, Dr Peter Phillips should insist that public funds are used for their committed intent unless there is formal bipartisan agreement otherwise, regardless of who is Prime Minister.